Timeline
Documenting Lewis and Clark – 1805, The Westward Passage
 August
17-24: Camp Fortunate
August 17
Meriwether Lewis: This morning I arrose very early and dispatched Drewyer and the Indian down the river. sent Shields to hunt. I made McNeal cook the remainder of our meat which afforded a slight breakfast for ourselves and the Cheif. Drewyer had been gone about 2 hours when an Indian who had straggled some little distance down the river returned and reported that the whitemen were coming, that he had seen them just below. they all appeared transported with joy, & the chef repeated his fraturnal hug. I felt quite as much gratifyed at this information as the Indians appeared to be. Shortly after Capt. Clark arrived with the Interpreter Charbono, and the Indian woman, who proved to be a sistr of the Chif Cameahwait. the meeting of those people was really affecting, particularly between Sah cah-gar-we-ah and an Indian woman, who had been taken prisoner at the same time with her, and who afterwards escaped from the Minnetares and rejoined her nation. At noon the Canoes arrived, and we had the satisfaction once more to find ourselves all together, with a flattering prospect of being able to obtain as many horses shortly as would enable us to prosicute our voyage by land should that by water be deemed unadvisable.
We now formed our camp just below the junction of the forks on the Lard. side in a level smooth bottom covered with a fine terf of green swoard.(Moulton, Vol. 5, p. 109-110)
William Clark: a fair Cold morning wind S.W. the Thermometer at 42 a. o at Sunrise, We Set out at 7 oClock and proceeded on to the forks I had not proceeded on one mile before I saw at a distance Several Indians on hors back Comeing towards me, The Interpreter & Squar who were before me at Some distance danced for the joyful Sight, and She made signs to me that they were her nation, as I approached nearer them descovered one of Capt Lewis part With them dressed in their Dress: . . .. Those people are not begerly but generous, only one has askedme for anything and he for powder.(Moulton, Vol. 5, p. 114-115)
August 24
Joseph Whitehouse: a clear and cool morning. we find that the band of the Snake nation who came here yesterday is going down on the Missourie after the buffaloe, and offers Some of their horses for Sale. So we Detain this morning in order to purchase Some of them. we got 3 or 4 more horses and hired 2 and loaded all our horses which was abt. 12 in nomber then the Squaws took the remainder of our baggage and we then Set out about 12 oC. On our way to cross the divideing ridge.(Moulton, Vol. 11, p. 283)
Patrick Gass: Our guide speaks of a way to sea, by going up the south fork of this river, getting on to the mountains that way, and then turning to the south west again. Captain Clarke therefore wrote a letter to Captain Lewis, and dispatched a man on horseback to meet him; and we all turned back up the river again, poor and uncomfortable enough, as we had nothing to eat, and there is no game. We proceeded up about 3 miles, and supperless went to rest for the night.(Moulton, Vol. 10, p. 132)
Back to Timeline |
Top of Page
|
